Knights

Sunday, July 23, 2023

By: Dan Allison | Silver Knights media relations

In a week that started with the Silver Knights giving up 10 or more runs in back-to-back days, Nashua’s pitching staff was able to cap off their bounce-back stretch with an excellent performance to give the Knights a 4-2 victory. Sunday’s win marks Nashua’s second straight game allowing two runs or less, dominating their way to a third straight victory as they head into the all-star break.

Nashua’s victory on Sunday snaps a two-game losing streak to the Sea Unicorns, and most importantly gives the Knights their first win of the season in the city of Norwich. Vanderbilt’s Nik Copenhaver headlined the afternoon, tossing four innings with only one earned run in his fourth start of the summer.

Northeastern’s Ryan Griffin, Rhode Island’s Brandon Hsu, and SNHU’s Zach Gitschier would follow Copenhaver and carry the Knights to the finish line. In four innings combined, the three allowed only four hits with no earned runs. 

Nashua’s staff would take on a “bend, don’t break” mantra in eastern Connecticut, stranding a boatload of Sea Unicorns on the base paths. Norwich would leave 12 on base in this contest, with five of them coming in the seventh and eighth inning. 

After sneaking by with a 1-0 victory last time out, the Knight offense would heat up the bats in Norwich to give their arms more cushion. Nashua would jump out ahead early, posting one-run innings in the second and third. 

A second-inning one-out triple from Northeastern’s Will Fosberg would allow Colby’s Brady O’Brien to post the first run of the ballgame on an RBI groundout, with Eastern Nazarene’s Shane McNamara singling home his 34th RBI of the season after a double from New England College’s Luca Giallongo in the third.

Despite a Norwich run coming across in the fourth, Nashua did not let that waver their offensive output. Giallongo would single home a run to highlight his multi-hit day in the fifth, as Colby Sawyer’s Cam Carignan would bring him around to score on a double to center. 

Four runs would be all Nashua would need to secure the victory behind their shutdown pitching, as the game sat at 4-1 heading to the ninth with Knight closer and Wake Forest Demon Deacon Will Ray taking the bump. 

Ray, who blew a save opportunity last time he took the bump in Norwich, looked to get some revenge back in Dodd Stadium this time. Ray would get a bit wild to start his outing, allowing Norwich to bring one across after a leadoff walk led to a sacrifice fly. After the run, Ray would settle in and get the next two outs and close out his fifth save and Nashua’s third straight victory.

Catching fire to close out the week, the Silver Knights will now head into the all-star break as several Knights will be heading up to Burlington, Vermont for the festivities. Following the break, Nashua will be on the road for a doubleheader versus Worcester. First pitch for game one in Worcester is set for 10:30 AM on Thursday.